Ahmad Shah Durrani vs Sultan Husayn

Ahmad Shah Durrani was elected as the leader of the Pashtun tribes at a loya jirga in Kandahar, following the assassination of Nadir Shah of Persia. He was crowned as the first King of Afghanistan, founding the Durrani Empire and the modern Afghan state.

Ahmad Shah Durrani made Kandahar the capital of his new empire. He built a new city, including the famous mausoleum of the Prophet Muhammad's cloak, and established it as the political and cultural center of the Durrani Empire.

Ahmad Shah Durrani captured the cities of Herat and Mashhad from the declining Persian Empire. These conquests expanded the Durrani Empire's territory into modern-day Iran and secured control over key trade routes and religious centers.

Ahmad Shah Durrani led Afghan forces to a decisive victory against the Maratha Empire at the Third Battle of Panipat in India. The battle halted Maratha expansion in northern India and established Afghan influence in the region, but also weakened both empires.

Afghan forces under Mahmud Hotak besieged Isfahan, the Safavid capital, for seven months. Sultan Husayn surrendered after the city faced severe famine and disease, marking the end of effective Safavid rule. The Afghans captured the city and executed many Safavid officials.

After the fall of Isfahan, Sultan Husayn abdicated the Safavid throne in favor of Mahmud Hotak, the Afghan leader. This abdication formally ended the Safavid dynasty's rule over Persia, though later Safavid claimants continued resistance.

Sultan Husayn was executed by the Afghan ruler Ashraf Hotak after being accused of plotting rebellion. His death eliminated the last Safavid shah and further destabilized Persia, leading to continued conflict between Afghan, Ottoman, and Russian forces.